Crypto is no longer niche bar-talk. It has become a part of mainstream commerce in the United States.
A new survey conducted jointly by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) and PayPal reveals that nearly 4 in 10 U.S. merchants (39%) now accept digital assets at checkout, with overwhelming consensus that crypto payments will become a standard option within the next five years.
The survey, which polled 619 payment decision-makers across retail, e-commerce, hospitality, luxury goods, and digital gaming sectors, highlights customer demand as the primary driver of adoption.
Nearly nine in ten merchants (88%) report receiving inquiries from customers about paying with cryptocurrency, and more than two-thirds (69%) say customers request these payments at least once a month.
For businesses already accepting digital currencies, crypto is no longer a novelty: it accounts for over a quarter (26%) of sales, with roughly 72% of merchants reporting growth in transactions over the past year.
“What we’re seeing both in this data and in conversations with our customers is that crypto payments are moving beyond experimentation and into everyday commerce,” said May Zabaneh, Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at PayPal. “Adoption is being driven by customer demand for faster, more flexible ways to pay — and once businesses start accepting crypto, they see real value.”
Zabaneh emphasized that when crypto payments are integrated as seamlessly as traditional cards or online payments, they can become a powerful tool to attract new customers and improve cash flow.
Crypto adoption in large enterprises Adoption is strongest among larger enterprises. According to the survey, 50% of companies earning over $500 million annually accept digital assets, compared to 34% of small businesses and 32% of midsize firms.
The data also shows that younger shoppers are fueling demand, with 77% of Millennials and 73% of Gen Z or younger customers expressing interest in using digital assets.
Small businesses, in particular, report high engagement from Gen Z, with 82% of inquiries coming from this demographic.
Merchants cite several key benefits to accepting digital assets, including faster transaction speed (45%), access to new customers (45%), enhanced security (41%), and greater privacy for buyers (40%). Industries leading adoption include hospitality and travel (81%), digital goods, gaming, and luxury retail (76%), as well as retail and e-commerce (69%), where speed, global reach, and digital-native audiences play a significant role.
Despite the momentum, simplicity and usability remain barriers to wider adoption. The survey found that 90% of merchants would consider accepting digital assets if the setup were as straightforward as accepting credit cards, and the same percentage said they would adopt it if the payment experience were as seamless as traditional methods.
“Interest isn’t the problem; understanding is,” said Stu Alderoty, President of the NCA. “Partnerships with trusted platforms like PayPal are crucial to bridge the knowledge gap and demonstrate that crypto can be simple, accessible, and effective for everyday businesses and consumers.”
Micah Zimmerman
Micah first discovered Bitcoin in 2018 but remained a skeptic on the sidelines for too long. Since 2021, he has covered crypto and business and now works as a news reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, based in North Carolina.
